“Why, to keep my mouth clean,” answered the little boy.

 

Uncle Remus looked at the lad, and shook his head doubtfully. “Uh-uh!” he exclaimed. “You can’t fool folks when dey git ez ol’ what I is. I been watchin’ you now mo’ days dan I kin¹ count, an’ I ain’t never see yo’ mouf dirty ’nuff fer ter be wiped wid a hankcher. It’s allers clean—too clean ter suit me. Dar’s yo’ pa, now; when he wuz a little chap like you, his mouf useter git dirty in de mornin’ an’ stay dirty plum twel night. Dey wa’ sca’cely a day dat he didn’t look like he been playin’ wid de pigs in de stable lot. Ef he yever is tote a hankcher, he ain’t never show it ter me.”

 

[189]

 

“He carries one now,” remarked the little boy with something like a triumphant² look on his face.

 

“Tooby sho’,” said Uncle Remus; “tooby sho’ he do. He start ter totin’ one when he tuck an’ tuck a notion fer ter go a-courtin’. It had his name in one cornder, an’ he useter sprinkle it wid stuff out’n a pepper-sauce bottle. It sho’ wuz rank, dat stuff wuz; it smell so sweet it make you fergit whar you live at. I take notice dat you ain’t got none on yone.”

 

“No; mother says that cologne or any kind of perfumery on your handkerchief makes you common.”

 

Uncle Remus leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and permitted a heartrending groan³ to issue from his lips. The little boy showed enough anxiety to ask him what the matter was. “Nothin’ much, honey; I wuz des tryin’ fer ter count how many diffunt kinder people dey is in dis big worl’, an’ ’fo’ I got mo’ dan half done wid my countin’, a pain struck me in my mizry, an’ I had ter break off.”

 

[190]

 

“I know what you mean,” said the child. “You think mother is queer; grandmother thinks so too.”

 

“How come you ter be so wise, honey?” Uncle Remus inquired, opening his eyes wide with

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